• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio talks to reporters at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Friday, April 4, 2025 (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)

The administration of US President Donald Trump has directed State Department employees to report any instances in which colleagues display “anti-Christian bias,” as part of the implementation of a broad executive order aimed at supporting Christian federal employees, POLITICO reported on Friday.

According to an internal cable obtained by the news website, the department will collaborate with a government-wide task force to gather information about “anti-religious bias during the last presidential administration,” and specifically solicit examples of anti-Christian bias through anonymous employee report forms.

The cable, issued under Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s name, was distributed to US embassies worldwide and accompanied by a department-wide notice outlining the instructions.

The document notes that the task force, created under the executive order, plans to convene around April 22 to review its preliminary findings.

State Department staff are encouraged to submit detailed reports—potentially anonymously—about incidents of bias, including names, dates, and locations of the alleged occurrences.

The directive has sparked concern among some State Department officials, who described the move as alarming. While some acknowledged the effort may be well-intentioned, they argued it stems from an unfounded assumption that anti-Christian sentiment exists within the department. They also warned that it could foster a climate of fear by encouraging staff to report on each other.

“It’s very ‘Handmaid’s Tale’-esque,” one State Department official said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on discussing internal matters publicly.

The guidance further clarifies that, while the executive order specifically focuses on anti-Christian bias, the department will also document broader instances of anti-religious bias for internal review.

“Although the E.O. focuses on anti-Christian bias, targeting anyone for their religious beliefs is discriminatory and is contrary to the Constitution” and various federal laws, the notice adds.

The executive order, issued by Trump in February, instructs all federal agencies to eliminate “anti-Christian bias” from within their ranks.

The Interfaith Alliance, a progressive organization advocating for religious freedom, criticized the order, arguing that while it may appear to address certain forms of stigma against Christians, particularly Catholics, "it will weaponize a narrow understanding of religious freedom to legitimize discrimination against marginalized groups."

Read more: 80% of potential deportees under Trump are Christian, report shows